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Episode 46

Who are you?

I've asked you a question.

[Choi Seom]

Who are you?

My name is Kim Chi Yang, Minister Choi.

[Kim Chi Yang (Ritual bearer)]

Kim Chi Yang?

Lady Sungdeok's Jurchen lover?

Yes.

What a pleasure!

How do you know this man?

So what is my lifeline?

Is Lady Sungdeok, no, the Empress Dowager, willing to spare my life?

No, you'd have to bring back to life a few dead souls if you want to be spared.

What?

If you could bring back your dead father, that would even be better.

If you could bring back the man who betrayed his country,

killed my mother and father and my dear friend as well,

I will take revenge on him and let you live.

What are you talking about?

Steward Mun, what is this?

You heard him. Think hard.

[Mun In Wui]

What? How dare you?!

You don't even remember, do you?

You sold me out, didn't you?

You're working for Lady Sungdeok! How dare you betray me?!

You are my servant. I am your master!

You're not my master.

My master is Kim Jung, the son of Crown Prince Mahi.

What? Who?

Who are you bastards?

Prince Mahi? Who are you?

I'm the young boy that your father tried so desperately to get rid of.

I came back from the dead for revenge.

Kim Hang.

That's my name. Does it sound familiar?

It can't be!

You mean you're the royal heir of Shilla?

That's right.

For thirty years, I've hidden my identity for the country.

Unbelievable!

You were my father's most trusted servant. Have you been a spy all along?

That's right.

I endured you for forty long years for the sole purpose of revenge.

What do you want from me after all these years?

Revenge for my dead father?

Yes, revenge is a start.

But know this before you die, I'm here to resurrect the regime you betrayed.

Resurrect Shilla?

That's right.

And you can watch from hell as we grow into a mighty empire.

You are insane. Resurrect Shilla?

That's a pipe dream. You can't turn back the tide.

Shilla has long been forgotten.

It matters not what the regime is named.

What matters is being in power of the regime.

As only a son of a traitor would say.

Do you have anything else left to say?

The grandson of Prince Mahi?

Yes.

You would've kneeled before me long ago, if fate had been altered.

Now it's time for you to die.

One thing is clear.

I thought I had been defeated by Empress Dowager Cheonchu,

but she is even more piteous than I am - to have a man like you using her.

This is for my grandfather.

This is for my parents.

And this is for my childhood friend and the monks!

All of them have been apprehended except Choi Seom?

Yes, Your Highness.

Does this mean he got away?

Secretary Kim is looking for the sender of the anonymous note.

[Sa Illa]

We will have Choi Seom as well once we find that person.

Will you be going to the inquiry?

[Cheon Hyang Bi]

Yes.

I will be interrogating them personally.

[Empress Dowager Cheonchu]

Notify the Ministry of Punishment and Ministry of the Military.

- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.

Are you sure? They got Lord Kim as well?

Yes, I saw them taking him.

[Jo Du]

How did they know where they were hiding?

[Jo sun]

What now, sir?

They're bound to find out that we are behind the attempt on the

new Emperor's life among other things.

Chances are slim that Lord Kim will survive this.

Her Highness, the Empress Dowager!

Listen well, all of you!

You've been arrested for your previous attempt on the Emperor's life at Guibup Temple

and for the recent attack at Myeongbok Palace.

Those who admit their crimes and show sincere remorse will be granted mercy

but those who resist will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Begin the interrogation.

Former Minister of Finance Kim Won Soong,

do you acknowledge your involvement in the attempted murder of the Emperor?

No! I'm innocent!

[Kim Won Soong]

I don't know anything about any of this!

How could I deploy troops when that's the Ministry of Punishment's jurisdiction?

I'm innocent!

Former Minister of Punishment Kim Shimon,

[Dae Dosu (Minister of Punishment)]

How do you respond?

I would accept punishment if I were guilty,

[Kim Shimon]

but I am not.

You lie!

The vice ministers of the Ministry of War and

[Gang Jo (Minister of War)]

Ministry of Punishment were there at the scene of the crime at Myeongbok Palace!

I will ask the two men directly.

Do you acknowledge your involvement?

I have nothing to say.

[Seol Shinyu]

Neither do I.

[Yi Yang]

We have no knowledge of any of this.

There is no reasoning with these men.

Torture them until they confess.

Yes, Your Highness. Begin!

Yes, sir!

It's me.

Brother!

[Court Lady Jo]

Where is the Queen?

They arrested my father?

Yes, Your Grace. They'll kill him unless we do something.

He took me and my sister in and gave us a life.

I can't let him die.

But there's nothing we can do.

[Lady Yunheung]

There is one hope.

The Emperor.

Regardless of the current situation, you are the woman who raised him.

He is our only hope.

Do not stop the torture until they talk!

Stop!

Please stop. I will confess!

Who gave the order?

Minister Choi Seom, of the Ministry of War, gave the order.

So please, please stop.

Confirm the statement, Kim Shimon. Is it true that Choi Seom gave the order?

I will not incriminate my father-in-law.

You'll just have to kill me.

Very well. Continue the torture!

Yes, sir.

Stop.

Yes.

Yi Yang and Seol Shinyu, raise your heads.

Does the former Queen Lady Yunheung know about this?

No!

The Queen has nothing to do with this!

Tell it like it is, men!

The Queen has nothing to do with this!

Continue the torture!

Yes, sir!

The Queen knows! She knows everything!

Choi Seom discussed everything with the Queen.

Now please stop the torture!

Are you insane? How dare you try to incriminate the Queen?!

No! The Queen is innocent!

Those men, those mean are lying!

Is this the man who turned them in?

Yes, Your Highness.

Raise your head up.

You look familiar.

He is Choi Seom's domestic steward.

Choi Seom's steward?

What made you turn against your own master?

I have been torn for many years, watching his devious deeds.

And this last attack on the royal family made me realize he had to be stopped.

No, he's become powerless, so now you're looking out for yourself.

No, Your Highness.

If I were a self-seeking man, I would've worked for Minister of

Finance, Kim Won Soong, and made a fortune for myself.

Please trust my loyalty.

We will see soon enough.

Then where is Choi Seom?

He, uh, committed suicide.

What?

He saw that it was the end for him, and he took his own life.

I've sent Sa Gamun to his hiding place.

If this man is telling the truth, we will find his body.

Very well.

I have another question.

Was Lady Yunheung, the former Queen, involved in his crimes?

The attack at Guibup Temple was set up by Kim Won Soong,

and don't believe the Queen knew about it until after the fact.

But the attack at Myeongbok Palace was ordered by

Choi Seom with the Queen's consent.

Unbelievable! I had my suspicions, but...

Lady Yunheung, you are under arrest for high treason!

High treason? What ridiculous allegation is this?

It's for the attempted murder of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

What?

Arrest her!

Yes, sir.

Let go of her!

Let go!

How dare you lay your hand on...

Please take your hands off.

Get your filthy hands off of me this instant!

I am the Queen Dowager. How dare you do this to me?!

Take her!

Yes, sir!

Let go of me!

What did you say?

They arrested the Queen Dowager?

[Mokjong (7th ruler of Goryeo)]

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Goh Hyun]

She has been placed in confinement

for her involvement in the attack at Myeongbok Palace.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Leave us.

Empress Dowager, how could you do this?

That's my question. What have you done?

I understand why you'd want me dead, but how could you even consider killing Song?

I'm being framed. I did no such thing.

All of your co-conspirators have confessed.

If you confess the truth, I will spare your life for my brother's sake.

I told you I'm innocent!

Aren't you the one making this up to get rid of me?

Who wouldn't say what you want them to say if you torture them long enough?

This is a disappointment.

We may never have been compatible,

but I liked you when you weren't involved in politics.

But now greed and jealousy is all that's left in you, just like your father.

Do not insult me!

What possible motive could I have to kill the Emperor?

I raised him with my own hands when you were out running wild.

Call the Emperor.

Call him right now!

Is it true that you had the Queen Dowager arrested?

Yes, it is.

Why are you breaking your promise? Release her right now!

Emperor, please calm down and come with me.

You must be more careful when you speak around your subjects.

Lady Yunheung tried to kill us.

You erode the law if you release her out of pity.

I do not care. Just release her!

Didn't you do the same thing?

You plotted against the late King.

You tried to kill him, but your life was spared because you were the King's sister.

This is different.

No, it's not different!

Release her right now. This is order!

I am your regent.

You are on that throne because I put you there.

So choose carefully who you wield your power at.

It's the criminals of high treason that you must show your authority to right now!

I see.

So you did put me on the throne so you could use me however you want.

Emperor!

I don't need this.

Why don't you just be the emperor yourself?

Why are you using my name to arrest, torture and kill people?

And don't say this is for Goryeo.

Frankly, Lady Yunheung is more of a mother to me than you could ever be.

How could you be my mother when you were never with me once when I was sick?

Your Majesty, what brings you here?

[Choi Ghi]

Step aside.

Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has ordered no visitors.

[Kim Hoon]

Do you dare obey the Empress Dowager's orders and defy mine?

No, but...

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Why is this happening to me?

The Empress Dowager is setting me up to kill me, just as I feared.

You did this to yourself.

Pardon?

Why did you suddenly become so covetous of power?

You already had everything.

You don't believe I tried to hurt you, do you?

Your men have confessed.

No. They're lying!

There is no use denying it.

Minister Choi Seom's steward revealed all of the details as well.

Your father is the one who tried to have me killed at Guibup Temple,

and you knew about it.

And this time, they discussed the plans with you and you didn't stop them.

No. No, Your Majesty.

They're setting me up.

Don't.

I didn't come here to fault you.

I should've died that day at Guibup Temple.

Then I would've lived and died without knowing that I have this wicked disease,

and I would not have had to watch my two mothers try to kill each other...

...for this wretched throne.

Your Majesty...

I loved the woman that used to teach me literature, lecture me about morals and values,

and at times, put me on her lap and sing to me when I was young.

There were times when I secretly wished you were my real mother.

Why did you change?

Who cares about this worthless robe?

Take it.

It's yours, so take it!

Your Majesty, I haven't changed.

You're still my beloved son, and I would never dream of hurting you.

Please believe me, Your Majesty.

Oh?

Sure. Heck, I'll believe you.

If I don't, I'll be the most pitiable man alive, so let's just say that I believe you.

I don't know where I went wrong.

He wasn't like this before...

Where did I go wrong?

There's so much to do and so far to go...

How should we deal with the criminals of high treason?

I'd like to hear your opinion?

Your Highness, the circumstances of this crime are very clear and unforgivable.

The instigator Choi Seom has taken his own life, but

that does not do justice for his crime.

I urge you to decapitate him and hang his head in the plaza on display.

Kim Won Soong, Yi Yang,

Seol Shinyu must also be executed to demonstrate the sternness of the law.

[Hwangbo Yui (Vice Minister of Finance)]

Lady Yunheung may be the dowager of the late King,

[Chae Choongsun (Secretary of the Interior)]

but her guilt is irrefutable.

I suggest she be stripped of her noble title and banished to a remote island.

Wait a minute.

Minister of Finance, I have a question for you.

Yes, Your Majesty.

When the Empress Dowager was indicted for high treason, your peers

Yi Ji Baek, Park Yang Yu, Yi Gyeomui and many others were tortured,

and banished, and some have even died.

How did you get away scot free?

Your Majesty, I was not involved in that crime.

[Han Ingyeong (Minister of Finance)]

No, it's more like you're party hopping to whichever side is in power.

Emperor, this not the time and place for this discussion.

And Secretary of Finance.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I don't understand what qualifies

you to be here other than that you are related to my mother.

Emperor.

And Supreme Council Secretary,

you just said we should strip Lady Yunheung of her title and banish her.

Does that mean you think my mother, Lady Sungdeok, should've been

renamed Dipshit or Jackass before she was banished?

Stop this, Emperor.

Why? Isn't this fun?

Don't you find it amusing?

Chief Minister, you're the top man here. Why aren't you saying anything?

Oh, but you're so old.

You probably don't even remember your own name sometimes.

Why do you bother coming out here if you can't even talk?

Emperor, stop this disgraceful behavior at once!

Oh, I'm so scared, Mother! Are you going to kill me, too?

They arrested Lady Yunheung?

Yes, Princess.

This not good.

[Xiao Zanli]

My plan was to join hands with Lady Yunheung, but that's impossible now.

We will just have to lay low for a while and see what develops.

[Duyan]

It's not a good time to take chances right now.

That's odd.

[Su No] [Jiemei]

You're the most pugnacious woman I know. And you want to lay low?

Are you sure you're not serving a different agenda?

A different agenda?

I know that you've hooked up with Kim Chi Yang's henchman.

If you ask me, you've fallen head over heels and forgotten what you're here for.

What are you talking about? My mission is all I ever think about.

I'm seeing that meat because it help me keep a closer eye on the merchant group.

And mind your own business.

I'm sure you have hard enough time

doing your own job with that pea-sized brain of yours.

What?

That's some fancy talk for a slut that jumps anything that wears pants.

Take your best shot. I'll rip your mouth off.

Stop it! We're all on the same side here.

Forgive me, Princess.

Forgive me, Princess.

Never mind.

A new ruler is on the throne, so an envoy will be dispatched from Liao.

And His Majesty will give us our orders through that envoy.

Let us lay low like Duyan said until we have that order.

This is not a small problem.

If His Majesty continues to go astray,

[Seo Hui (Chief of the Supreme Council)]

I know. I've seen it happen.

Then perhaps the only solution is to persuade the Empress Dowager

[Gang Gamchan (Minister of the Board of Rites)]

to release Lady Yunheung, before the situation gets any worse.

General Gang, would you talk to the Empress Dowager?

She'll listen to you.

Sir, it's not likely that she would listen to anything I say on this matter.

The man who is in charge of this is Kim Chi Yang.

Secretary of the Office of Ceremony?

Yes.

He's the one who found the hiding perpetrators

and uncovered the Queen Dowager's involvement.

He is like a wild wolf thirsting for blood.

He insists on executing all of them.

General Gang, there is something I'd like to ask you.

Everyone is hush-hush about this,

but is it true that the Empress Dowager and Kim Chi Yang had an illicit affair?

I'm sorry, sir.

That's not a subject matter I can dare discuss.

Please don't ask me about that.

This no time to get soft, Your Highness.

They are certain to become impediment to your house if you let them live.

Empress Dowager Chengtian of Liao would kill them all without hesitation.

I want to as well.

But the Emperor is protesting with his defiant behavior.

Am I to completely ignore him?

He's just going through a rebellious stage.

He is a dutiful son, so he will eventually come around.

No, I don't think this is a phase he is going through.

I think...

I think he might be reacting to us and our relationship.

Out of antipathy for me?

Then how do you feel about getting him married?

Married?

Yes, he certainly is at that age.

He might be more accepting of our relationship

once he marries and learns about love.

Attendant Goh!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Bring me more wine. I'm out.

Your Majesty, you've already had too much. Please stop for today.

Obey my order. I am the Emperor.

Do I look like chopped liver to you, too?

Your Majesty.

But you will be scolded again if the Empress Dowager finds out, so...

I am the Emperor of Goryeo, not my mother.

Granted I am powerless puppet, I should still be able to drink when I want!

So fetch another bottle of wine. Now!

Attendant Goh, please leave us.

Your Majesty, what's wrong this time?

Oh, the nagger is here again.

Your Majesty.

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

[Sun (Future Queen Sunjeong)]

Attendant Goh may be a servant, but he is three times your age.

How could you treat him this way?

All right, all right. I won't drink anymore.

So stop.

Your Majesty, please stop acting like this.

I know how deeply you care about your mother.

Why do you say such spiteful things in front of her?

I don't like it either.

I don't like what I'm becoming and I want to stop.

But I just get so angry when I see my mother that I can't help it.

It's all because of this wretched throne.

Your Majesty...

Cousin, do you know what it's like to be here?

I can't trust anyone.

When you're sitting here, everyone is your enemy, including your family.

And I'm afraid.

Being here makes me afraid of my own mother.

Darn, I'm already sober...

why aren't you sending merchant caravans into Khitan?

Isn't it time to focus on making money now that the power part is out of the way?

That's for Foreman Kim to decide.

[Sa Gamun]

What's going to happen to Lady Yunheung and the others?

Will they be executed?

That, too, is for Foreman Kim to decide.

Don't you have a mind of your own?

What?

Every time I ask you a question, your answer is Foreman Kim.

It makes my man look like a mindless fool.

Your man?

Yes, you're my man. Aren't you?

Whatever.

Oh dear!

Don't you know how to knock?

I'm sorry.

[Yi Jujeong]

It looks like I walked in at a very important moment!

What do you need?

You have a visitor.

A visitor?

Do you know who I am?

You've got some guts coming here.

There's nothing a man can't do when he's prepared to die.

Prepared to die? I'm getting curious.

I will talk to Kim Chi Yang directly.

Foreman Kim is in the palace right now. You'll have to talk to me.

Surrender Kim Won Soong's entire fortune?

Yes, they'll surrender everything, including his hidden assets

in exchange for Kim Won Soong's life.

And you wouldn't believe the amount.

It's five times Goryeo's annual tax revenue.

That much?

Yes.

Imagine all the things they must've done to amass that kind of fortune.

They must be pretty desperate to give up the money they value more than life.

What do you think?

Your Highness, wrap up the inquiry now

and grant leniency to Lady Yunheung and her men.

It is in keeping with the wishes of the late King and for peace

and harmony in the regime.

Yes.

And above all, think of what the Emperor must be going through.

He will only become more defiant if you don't bend.

I can grant leniency to the others but not to Kim Won Soong.

He has tried to kill the Emperor twice.

Then punish him as your heart desires.

But please release Lady Yunheung and honor your word to the late King.

Your Highness, if I may ask you a question...

Go on.

There is a rumor in about you and the first secretary of the Office of Ceremony.

If this is about the rumor that Kim Chi Yang and I are lovers, it is true.

Your Highness, that is not acceptable.

It's about one person's feelings toward another.

What is there to accept or reject?

You are in a position of highest power in Goryeo.

You can't expose yourself to this kind of criticism.

I don't understand. How does this warrant criticism?

Men normally remarry when they lose their wives,

but I'm not even talking about getting remarried.

I simply have feelings for a man. Does that warrant criticism?

Your Highness, you are royalty and the regent of the state at that.

If this becomes public, Kim Chi Yang will gain great power.

That is our concern.

I will not put him in a position of power.

Please don't tie my personal life into politics and make an issue.

I am entitled to have feelings for anyone I want, just like everyone else.

Seo Hui and Gang Gamchan were urging her to keep me at a distance?

Yes.

Um, Master.

I want to ask you something.

Go on.

You are in this relationship with the dowager to further our cause, aren't you?

You don't really love her, do you?

That is not for you to wonder about.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked.

I will have to release Lady Yunheung.

The Emperor will not relent until I do.

What is your decision for the rest of them?

I'm going to execute Kim Won Soong and sentence the rest of them to exile.

Perhaps you should spare Kim Won Soong as well.

Pardon?

His men came to me with a proposition. They're offering his entire fortune.

Money in exchange for his life?

Yes, Your Highness.

No.

He has repeatedly tried to kill my son. I can't let him live.

But he is but a powerless merchant now.

Killing him will settle the score but gain nothing.

Taking his fortune is more beneficial for you and for Goryeo.

You'd choose money over justice?

Yes, Your Highness.

Isn't our first goal strengthening the military?

How are you going to do this?

We can't just call young men during farming season and place them in service.

We need money to pay them.

Sacrifice the trivial for the important, Your Highness.

Is Kim Chi Yang in the Empress Dowager's chambers again?

Yes.

He's there almost every day.

Jo, do you still think about the Empress Dowager?

Let it go.

Stop torturing yourself by loving her.

How do you stop your heart from loving someone?

You have to try. She already has someone else.

If you don't have feelings for me as a woman,

find someone else and get married.

If it's for your happiness, I can stop my heart.

Feelings are so hard to control.

[Prince Daeryang Wang Sun]

Take a look, Your Majesty. Doesn't he write beautifully?

Yes, that's an excellent job!

Afternoon, Your Highness.

Afternoon, Your Highness.

I see you're writing calligraphy.

I'd like to talk to the Emperor for a moment.

Sure, enjoy your conversation.

You're not even going to look at me anymore?

Fine. You win.

I will release Lady Yunheung.

You will?

Yes.

But you must promise you will never behave that way in the council hall again.

Fine.

And one more thing.

How do you feel about getting married?

Married?

Yes, you've reached that age.

We haven't had the chance to think about it, with the funeral and the enthronement,

but it's about time.

After all, procreation is a part of the Emperor's duty.

But to whom?

You were with her just now.

Huh? You mean Cousin Sun?

Why? Don't you like her?

Of course I do. But we've been so close...

Then it's settled.

She knows you well, and she can assist you better than anyone.

Probably better than myself.

Sis, it's not nice to eavesdrop.

Shhhh!

Are you listening to this, Sun?

No, Your Highness.

These are the decisions of the court:

Kim Shimon, Seol Shinyu and Yi Yang will be sentenced to life in exile

for their direct involvement in high treason.

Lady Yunheung will be discharged without further order, in consideration

of her title as the Queen Dowager.

Her father, Kim Won Soong, has committed the gravest crime,

but he has made his reparations by surrendering his entire fortune to

the state and hence will be absolved.

Your grace is immeasurable!

And now I have a wonderful announcement to make.

His Majesty has reached marrying age, and has decided to marry Princess Sun,

the daughter of Late Queen Mundeok.

I ask the Ministry of Rites to select an auspicious date and

and begin preparing for the marriage.

This is joyous news for the Imperial house and the Empire, Your Highness.

Allow me to congratulate you.

We offer you congratulations, Your Highness.

Sire! Sire!

Sire! Sire!

Oh, sire! How could they do this to you?

Are you all right, Sire?

Take him inside and call the physician.

Yes, Your Grace.

Father, are you all right?

How could I be all right?

I've been subjected to ruthless torture at sixty years of age.

Oh, my back...

I will pay them back for this.

So don't worry about a thing, and stay here taking care of yourself.

No, I should go. I can't be a burden to you.

You surrendered your entire estate. They will take your home, too.

Don't worry.

Even if they take everything...

I can't go broke.

What do you mean?

It's nothing. You just take care of yourself.

I will get my own revenge.

They grossly misjudged me.

I promise you they will pay for every scratch they put on my body.

A martial art tournament?

Yes, Your Highness.

We will round up the best warriors from across the state

in honor of the Emperor's wedding.

This will be an opportunity to discover hidden talents

and put them to the important service of the state.

I'm for it.

Perhaps we could award the winners with government posts

and eliminate social class restrictions on entry requirements.

That's is a good idea.

In fact, I have just the man for this who I met back in Heunglaebu.

[Heunglaebu: Present day Ulsan]

Is that right?

We have a man in mind as well, who we met in the northern outpost.

Oh?

Your Highness, the Khitan have dispatched an envoy.

Stop them. They must be stopped!

My mother is coming back from the Southern Capital.

[Shengzong of Liao (6th ruler of Khitan)]

The Empress Dowager?

Yes.

Goryeoans have declared an empire in her absence and I have failed to stop them.

I'll be damned if I have to make that report.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

You can make any kind of threats you want.

Goryeo is our feudal state, and they cannot be an empire!

Welcome.

I, General Yelu Dilie of Great Liao,

bring you the Emperor's edict to honor

[Yelu Dilie]

the enthronement of the new King.

Thank you. I appreciate your visit.

Your Highness, now please accept the Emperor's edict.

Wait.

It seems you have not heard.

You are addressing the Emperor by the wrong title.

Goryeo has been restored to the empire that it was in the reign of Gyeongjong.

Hence you will refer to our ruler as His Majesty the Emperor from now on.

I'm afraid I cannot, Your Grace.

I beg your pardon.

Goryeo is a feudal state of Great Liao which uses our era name.

How could a feudal state dare declare itself an empire?

It is not permissible.

Not permissible?

What would you do if I said I don't care?

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